| It was almost 9 years ago that I was at Judo | | | | This did not seem like such an "appealing |
| and had partnered with a friend to practice a hip | | | | proposition." |
| throw. I had done this throw thousands of times | | | | So I began to train Systema and Judo at the |
| over the course of my career in Judo and was | | | | same time. |
| reasonably successful at it. One of the times I | | | | Systema scared the hell out of me. People were |
| was coming into this hip throw and my friend | | | | punching and kicking each other in all sorts of |
| tapped my hip a little. All of a sudden I found | | | | scenarios (on the ground, standing up, one on one, |
| myself on the ground not understanding at all | | | | in a group). Up to that point I had never been |
| what just had happened. | | | | involved in a "punching art." Judo was all about |
| Being full of myself, I looked at him and said, "Try | | | | throws, chokes, arm locks, and hold-downs. |
| that again!" | | | | However, there was this feeling I had after |
| I came into the throw again and once again I | | | | practice, no matter how scary practice was, |
| found myself on the ground not knowing what | | | | where I felt "light." A light feeling that felt really |
| just had happened. | | | | good. Like I had begun to deal with the fear in my |
| I asked him, "What did you do?" | | | | body that held me in such a tense tight place |
| The response came, "I just relaxed your tension..." | | | | causing all of the pain I was feeling from my knee |
| I got up and said, "That was pretty cool. I want | | | | injury and all the other injuries that had been |
| to learn how to do that!" | | | | there for a very long time. |
| That was my introduction to Systema and my | | | | The more I practiced Systema, the less Judo I |
| life has not been the same since... | | | | did, the better I felt, the more fluidly I moved, |
| In and around the time of that fateful practice I | | | | and my knee pain went away! |
| had sustained a severe injury to my left knee | | | | The bonus to all of this is all of the great people I |
| and had torn the (ACL) anterior cruciate ligament | | | | have met along the way. |
| as well as a couple of pieces of cartilage. I was in | | | | Great people with solid character and values. |
| "recovery" mode after surgery trying to | | | | Great people who are willing to look at their fears |
| strengthen my legs so I did not feel so stiff, sore | | | | and really work on them (of course while they |
| and prone to more injuries as a result of the left | | | | are punching yours out! J) Great people that |
| knee. | | | | recognize their own ego and self-pity and use |
| However, the more Judo I did the more I | | | | humor to let go of these "crutches." Great people |
| seemed to "hurt" myself. | | | | who show up day after day to practice knowing |
| I am not talking about big injuries either. I am | | | | that Systema is a way to improve themselves |
| talking about the pulled muscle in the back or the | | | | letting go of what does not serve them in their |
| neck that leaves you unable to really practice for | | | | lives. |
| a week or so. Nagging injuries that keeps you | | | | I am so thankful to have found Systema. It has |
| from practicing because you know it will just get | | | | improved my life on many levels physically, |
| worse and then who knows what situation you | | | | mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I can't imagine |
| will be faced with. | | | | my life now without it. I only hope that I am able |
| The only examples I had were the "older" Judo | | | | to carry that feeling of Systema forward and |
| black belts who could not kneel, or had back | | | | share it with others so I may improve their lives |
| surgery, or who could no longer do the throws | | | | like it has mine. |
| they did when they were younger. | | | | |